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It may treasure what we’ve all been waiting for. The elusive API. The holy access to live video on the iPhone.

We will never know if the Open Letter to Apple had any dent on Apple’s decision to introduce the new APIs – but for a moment – we are blissful.

By tomorrow we’ll know for sure if it works. What ever the outcome, at least we made a lot of friends and discovered a swarm of AR developers eager to bring the augmented reality experience to the masses.

Camera – A GOOD CAMERA with a quality lens, video recording at 320×240 or preferably 640×480 (VGA) at 30fps at a good quality (noise, contrast, colors, etc) even under low lighting. Zoom and auto focus a bonus. Front camera – bonus.

Low latency for getting the the camera image to the CPU/GPU and in turn to the display

Zero-latency video output from the device for a head-worn display (digital or analog)

Low-latency inputs for external sensors (such as a tracker on the head-worn display) and cameras (on the head-worn display).

GOOD graphics drivers, Open GL 2.0 (unlike the current Intel OpenGL drivers on Atom which are almost a show stopper for many projects…)

OS – The best Mobile Linux out there, with C/C++ based SDK and a good emulator. Also as an alternative: Win Mobile support (better dev tools)

Buttons – Very few. QWERTY keyboard is a nice to have.

Connectivity – 3G/GSM, WIFI, Bluetooth

Sensors – A-GPS, accelerometer, 3DOF Gyro sensors

3-axis compass

Storage – 8G and expandable

Memory – 1G RAM

Battery – Min. 3 hours while in full use of camera and network

Extensibility – video out for an HMD, USB port on it.

Openness – open source…

So what do you think?

This spec was actually a swift response to a challenge presented by Intel’s Ashley McCorkle.

Many thanks for the contribution by Daniel-Good camera!-Wagner, Steven-don’t forget latency!-Feiner , Bruce-a couple of extras-Thomas, and Charles-Very bright screen-Woodward.

In ISMAR 2009 in Orlando, we are planning to organize a round table discussion for this very purpose. Would you be interested in participating?

***update***

The experts and enthusiasts are weighing in, and as it usually is in reality (as opposed to dreams) remind us that we need to consider trade-offs.

Charles for example says he would trade off battery time for a lighter device. He also suggests that for professional use – a higher price ($1000 range) for a higher quality device would be reasonable.

To achieve that feat it first has to beat the iPhone. Its haptic capability (pressing a button on the touch screen feels like pressing a real button) won’t do it alone.

Well, the Storm has a better camera (3.2 MP vs. 2MP), a somewhat better screen (especially in sun light), and it records video. One could also expect a longer battery time.

On the down side: the user experience and the OS is reportedly not up to snuff with the iPhone (freezes, awkward user interface at times). Plus it’s missing WIFI support (what gives?), and it’s heavier (by 17%).

The verdict?

The Storm will have to prove itself in the market with adoption among users and developers before making the top 5 AR device list.

No big winners on this list.
Some have to be hacked to do AR; some might not see the light of day; others don’t even have cameras.
[What in the world are MIDs with no cameras doing on the list, you ask?
Patience my friends. The MIDs are coming. They will have cameras in no time.]

A couple of days later, before you could say “Intel’s-Atom-based-mobile-internet-device”, a MID with a rear camera was announced; and it speaks Italian: Ciao Itelco IDOL!

Itelco IDOL

Those of you following the MIDs evolution, will immediately recognize it as a rebranded Aigo 8880 or a Megabyte M528 or maybe a SFR M! PC Pocket… all various rebadged configurations of Option’s Compal JAX-10 design unveiled at Intel’s IDF this August.

I am inclined to announce the IDOL as the front-runner in the race for augmented reality device greatness, but since I am yet to receive a first hand confirmation of its use in an AR scenario, I’ll settle for an update of the “2008 High End Round Up”

.

Nice. Finally a contender with no major flaws. Back to the pursuit of the ultimate augmented reality game.

Based on the feedback, you appreciated the condensed collection of various categories of devices, as well as the suggested criteria for evaluating upcoming devices. What you were missing is a practical head to head comparison of the top devices.

So ,here it is: the (mostly) complete, (roughly) unbiased, and accurate (at best) comparison of the top mobile devices for high end augmented reality.

How do you become a high-end AR device?

If you’re snug in my hand, have the power to track natural features and objects in live video, while interacting with the overlaid 3D graphics at 24 fps — and all looking good on the display – welcome to the high end club.

Now, take a deep breath, click…and dive right ahead: 5 devices, 22 criteria, rated from bad->fair->good->excellent, with no frills.